Self closing and folding umbrella.



S. S. FRETZ. SELF CLOSING AND FOLDING UMBRBLL-A.

APPLIGATION IIBED FEB.18, 1913.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

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UNTED STATENT OFFICE',

SAMUEL S. FRETLOF PIIILAI)ELPI'IA,I PENNSYLVANIA.

SELF CLOSING AND FOLDING MBRNLLA.

My invention consists of an umbrella (or i aparasol) in which provision is made `for the self-closing of the same by the release of what is known as the lower `spring or spring catch when the runner that has held the umbrella (or parasol) in open-position op-` erates what is known as the upper yspring or spring catch so as to release said runner, when the latter subjected to the strain of the cover and frame, is rendered freev to yslidi-i` on the stick to the closed position. ofthe umbrella (or parasol), carrying said cover and frame with it to said position.

It consists further inproviding a folding umbrella with a stick of tubular meinbers telescopically fitted one with the other and connecting an upper spring or spring catch connected with the inner stick menfiber` whereby in folding the umbrella (or para` sol) the inner member when drawn `out of the exterior member, said spring or spring catch is carried by said member, thus avoiding the lengthened slot in the inner member as heretofore occasioned wliensaid` spring or spring catch is attached to the outer stickmember. y

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated` in the accompanying drawing, but the portant instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it is to be understood-that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement and organization shown and described. e l

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of portions of an umbrella embodying my invention. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent longitudinal sections of different parts thereof. Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of a detached portion thereof. Fig. 7 rep-l resents a longitudinal section of portions of the umbrella in condition preparatory to folding.- FigfS represents a side elevation of portions of the umbrella in folded condition.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the iiguresz Referring to the drawings :-1 designates what is termed an umbrella stick or stati', the same being formed of tubular members Specification of Letters Patent. *l Patented Oct, 13, 1914 Appiication mea February is, i913.` V seriaiNo. 749,075.

. 2 and 3 fitted telescopically one within lthe other`t he outer member being compara-` tivelyprigid from end to end, and the inner member being formed with a folded section 4 which is pivoted thereon by the'link 5, as

at 6, the umbrella handle "2', being connected with the end of the section e.

, 8 designatesthe `upper spring or spring catch,l the same having its shank within the inner member `3 and connected therewith by lthe teat 9 which is formed in the lower end `of said e-shankand adapted to enter an opening in said inner member as most plainly sho'wnin Figs. ,2 `and l, said springfhaving a noseI `10y which; is adapted to protrude through slots 11 and12 `in the inner and outer members of the stick so" that its top` is engaged by the shoulder 13` on the interior `oftheupper portion of the sliding bulb runneillil, this being occasioned when theumbrella is in open condition, see Fig. 2, it being noticed that said runner has a shoulder l5 on the interior of its lower `portion forengagement with the nose 16 of the ylower .spring or spring catch 17 of the stick when the umbrella` is in closed position see Fig. 3. It willbe noticed that said lower spring has its nose 16 attached to the inner' 'member ofthe stick,` `and it is provided witha head `18, the two members of the stick having openings 19 and 2O therein to permit the protrusion of the nose 16 therei through, and openings 21 and 22 therein to Y perinitthe protrusion of tliehead 18 therethrough, it being noticed also that said head extends outwardly from the stick to a greater extent than said nose 1G, consequently lwhen the nose is pushed `into the stickbythe action of therunner 14, so as to permit the latter to opentlie umbrella, the

head 18 remains partly in "the openings 21 and 22, andso engagedmoreparticularly with the outer stick member, whereby the disconnection of the two stick members is prevented in the opening of the umbrella,

attention being directed to the fact that the lower end of the opening 21 of the outer Imemberis closed from below the base ii'fall123'lwhichis an integralportion of the outer `member at what maybe termed the lower `end of said member; consequently the head'lS rests solidly on the top of said wall and so cannot be pulled downwardly through the latter when the runner is raised by one hand and the handle is held by the other hand, and thus the` two members remain locked in the opening of the umbrella, but when it is desired to fold the umbrella, the latter being in closed conditiomthe head 18 is pushed into fullest extent when it` clears the inner'side of the top of the opening 2l at the back of the wall 23. Then,V

when the inner stick member is drawnout,

said head rides` down said back and the nose y position to be folded as shown in Fig. 7.

When vthe'umbrella is in open condition the runner rests on the nose of the upper spring, see Fig. 2, while the head of the lower spring rests in thevopenings of the inner and outer stick members, see F ig. 3, consequently the umbrella is held or controlled doubly in its open condition, but when the umbrella is to be closed .the lower catch is pressed in to the head thereof whereby the .inner stick .member is no' longer sustained by the lower catch. on the outer stick member, consequently, the downward strain or tension of the coverv ofthe umbrella and the frame, z'. e. the ribs and stretchers, presses the runner forcibly against the outer corner of the nose of the upper spring, overcoming the holding action of the latter whereby the shoulder 13 of the runner presses the nose of the spring sidewise inwardly whereby the runner rides freely downwardly over said spring to its lowermost position, folding the cover and frame, and so closing the umbrella, which as is apparent, has-been automatic or self closing in its nature.

In order to facilitate the inner movement of the head of the lower catch, the wall of the opening 21 of the outer stick is depressed orvrecessed as at 2a, whereby the contiguous portion of the thumb of the carrier of the umbrella on said head may press in the latter to an extent to cause said head to fully clear the outer stick when so required. It

d will be noticed also that the upper spring is connected with thel inner stick member whereby when the'latter is drawn out from the outer stickfmember in the operation of the folding of the umbrella, the nose of said spring rides on the lower wall of the opening l2 in the outer member and so enters the inner stiCkmember, and recedes from the outerstick member, thus avoiding a long slot in the outer stick to pass said nose as is the case where said upper spring is connected with the outer stick member, such slot highly weakened the wall of the inner stick member.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In an umbrella, a stick composed of in- .ner and outer' members telescopically arranged one within the other, upper and lower catches on said stick, and attached at one end to the inner members of said stick, a runner, a head on the lower catch separated from the nose thereof, the outer stick member having an opening through which said head is protrudable, a portion of the outer stick member forming a seat for the head and closing said opening below, whereby the umbrella is heldin open condition by the action of the runner on the upper catch and said head of the lower catch on said portion, and is adapted to be automatically released and closed by inward motion imparted to said head, thus releasing the inner stick member and permitting the runner to automatically force in the upper catch causing the automatic folding of the umbrella, said upper catch being constructed to recede from the outer member and enter the inner member in the operation of folding of the umbrella. y

2. In an umbrella, a stick composed of telescopic members, upper and lower spring catches attached at one end to the inner member of said stick, the outer member being comparatively rigid throughout its length and the inner member formed with a folding section, the upper catch having a nose adapted to protrude through openings in the inner and outer members, the lower catch having a nose and a head extendable through separate openings in the inner and outer members, said head extending to a greater extent than said nose, and a runner movable on the outer member of the stick and engageable with said nose without withdrawing the head from its engagement in the openings of the inner and outer members.

SAMUEL S. FRETZ.

W'itnesses JOHN A. VVIEDERSHEIM, N. BUssINcER.

Copies of this patent may be robtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

